Stream Two New Animal Collective Songs: "Honeycomb" and "Gotham"

brought Baltimore's psychedelic indie trailblazers Animal Collective together in perfect harmony. The critically acclaimed album showcased AnCo's trademark occulting sonic snippets while simultaneously unveiling the most approachable moments of its career. "My Girls" and "Summertime Clothes" were not totally art-damaged pop songs; turns out they were -- dare we say? -- teetering on straight-up pop delights.

The new seven-inch single Honeycomb/Gotham featuring two new Animal Collective songs arrives after much anticipation. Where on the musical spectrum are our genre-hopping, sample-crazed auteurs headed?

"'Honeycomb" comes out of the gate with the bleep-blooping berserkness of pre-Merriweather Post Pavilion records. Strip away the frenzied digital loops, however, and what you have is a pristine melody that merits those Beach Boys comparisons.

"Gotham" is more of a slow-burner. Twirling with a midtempo solemnity and erratic time signatures, it babbles out kaleidoscopic squiggles midway through, like it just couldn't help itself from being another signature AnCo tune.

Both songs are perfect appetizers for fans of the band who have waited nearly two and a half years for new material.

The Honeycomb/Gotham digital bundle is available here for purchase. Die-hard fans will take delight in this: the physical seven-inch vinyl is available to pre-order now on the Domino Store, providing the instant audible gratification of two new Animal Collective tracks.